87. Next Step

|| Lilac's POV || I woke up with a light headache, the kind that lingers after a night of too much wine and too many emotions. The memories of last night came rushing back in vivid flashes— Kael’s desperate attempt to frame me, Coco’s venomous glare, Alexander’s calm presence, Madeline’s quiet strength, and Alaric… Alaric and our night together. My lips curved into a small, involuntary smile as I recalled the heat of his touch, the way his voice had growled low in my ear, claiming me as his. For a moment, I let myself bask in the memory, the warmth of his body against mine, the way he had looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered in the world. But the smile faded as quickly as it had come. Reality crashed down on me like a tidal wave. If Alexander became the Alpha King, I might have a little more time— time to figure things out, time to breathe, time to spend with Alaric. But who was I fooling? The Moon Goddess’s words echoed in my mind, sharp and unyielding: “Find your mate